A new study has highlighted the challenges and opportunities for promoting healthy and optimal ageing among older indigenous residents of Vanuatu.
Vanuatu is a Pacific Island nation at the early stages of demographic ageing. With a growing population aged 60 and over, Vanuatu faces unique challenges in delivering health and social care to communities due to its geographic barriers, workforce shortages, and under-resourced systems.
Led by Dr. Anna Palagyi, Program Lead at The George Institute (Ageing and Health Systems) and Associate Investigator at the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, in partnership with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office, the research evaluated national policies and the lived experiences of older indigenous Vanuatu residents (ni-Vanuatu) to guide strategic responses for optimising health and well-being.
The study emphasised the importance of leveraging traditional community values and the central role of family networks in care for older people. Whilst two national policy documents made explicit mention of the needs and rights of older persons, the findings revealed a lack of ageing-focused policy commitments to address the community, health and social care needs of older adults. Specific challenges faced by older ni-Vanuatu include financial insecurity, social isolation, and limited access to community-based support systems.
“Our findings provide new evidence for Vanuatu government decision-makers and service planners to inform the development of policies and programs that include, and empower, its ageing population. By aligning with regional frameworks and embracing traditional strengths, it is possible to develop practical, sustainable solutions for healthy ageing.” says Dr Palagyi.
Based on the findings of the study, the research team proposed ten preliminary steps towards developing a national response to healthy ageing. These recommendations align with the World Health Organization’s Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific and advocate for a pragmatic, culturally informed approach.
“This research lays a foundation for Vanuatu and other Pacific nations to build inclusive, evidence-based policies that optimise health and social outcomes for older adults.”
Read more about the ten preliminary steps in the full journal article here.